General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5
Report of Publication Committee. AS AMENDED AND PASSED
W. C. White
The Publishing Committee respectfully present the following report for your consideration:— GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.3
Whereas, It has been clearly demonstrated that systematic house-to-house canvassing with our literature is a powerful factor in extending the gospel of the kingdom to the world; therefore we recommend,— GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.4
1. That our people put forth a vigorous effort in behalf of the circulation of our periodicals. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.5
2. That conference and other laborers unite in a systematic effort to engage and instruct members of our churches in this work. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.6
3. That the large cities be entered and thoroughly canvassed as soon as possible. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.7
4. That the periodical work be conducted under the direction of the conference committee. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.8
5. That our ministers, church officers, and the heads of families be asked to unite in an earnest effort to encourage persons of varied age and ability to take up the work of circulating our periodicals and books as resident canvassers. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.9
6. That conferences give more attention to the character of the work done by each canvasser, and render him the counsel, encouragement, and help that seems necessary, in order that a high standard may be maintained. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.10
7. That we recognize the church-school teacher as an important factor in the training of our children to become colporters and canvassers. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.11
8. That the General Conference Committee make liberal provision for the publication of gospel literature in all its mission fields. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.12
9. That provision be made for one of its secretaries to give special study to the most effective and economical methods of producing this literature in the field. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.13
10. That greater effort be made to send to the mission fields persons who will engage in the circulation of gospel literature. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.14
11. That we endeavor to strengthen the Scandinavian and German work in America by an earnest and systematic effort to revive the canvassing and colporter work among these nationalities. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.15
12. That the printing of our German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian periodicals for circulation in America be done by the Union College printing department, provided it has the necessary facilities, and can do the work at reasonable prices. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.16
13. That a committee of five be appointed from each nationality to manage, under the supervision of the Central Union Conference, the publication of the papers in their language, three members of each committee to be chosen by the Central Union Conference Committee, and two members by the General Conference Committee. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.17
14. That these publication committees be authorized to publish tracts and pamphlets in their respective languages, as far as they may be able to procure the means to do so. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.18
15. That the Central Union Conference Committee assist Union College in raising about four thousand dollars, for furnishing the Union College printing department with a good-sized printing-press and other necessary facilities. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.19
[Voted to refer Recommendation 15 to the Central Union Conference.] GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.20
16. That we secure from the Christiania Publishing House the large Scandinavian books required both in Europe and America. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.21
17. That we secure from the Hamburg Publishing House the large German books required in America and Europe. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.22
18. That we encourage our brethren engaged in the issue of gospel literature in the French field by making our Canadian Publishing Association a depository for the distribution of their literature in America. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.23
19. That the General Conference Committee make provisions for the publication of large books in the Spanish language, in Barcelona or some other favorable seaport town of Spain: and for the publication of the necessary periodicals, tracts, and pamphlets in Mexico and our South American missions, according to the necessities of the several fields. GCB April 14, 1903, page 193.24
20. That we recognize the right of Union Conferences and union mission fields to establish and maintain book depositories wherever in their judgment it appears best to do so, and that when such depositories are established, they take control of the publishing work in their territory, and that they have the privilege of securing their books from such sources as they may deem best. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.1
21. That wherever depositories are established which will affect in any way existing publishing houses or their branches, satisfactory arrangements be made so that the interests of all parties concerned may be protected. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.2
22. That it be distinctly understood in establishing these depositories it is not contemplated that printing offices be started for printing and binding books, but that these be purchased from our regular established publishing houses. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.3
23. That in case Review & Herald accepts the invitation of the Atlantic Union Conference to establish a plant in its territory, they be requested to arrange with the Pacific Press Publishing Company for the transfer of its New York branch at a fair valuation, and that in lieu of the territory of the Atlantic Union Conference, now under control of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, they turn over to said company their territory in the Central Union Conference. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.4
24. That our publishing houses furnish publications to the depositories in Union Conferences and mission fields at publishers’ rates. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.5
25. That a General Advisory Committee for North America be selected for the purpose of unifying and up-building the publishing work, and to assist in strengthening and systematizing the efforts of our state tract and missionary societies. This committee to consist of the following: One person from each publishing house, one from each branch office, one from each Union Conference, and one from the General Conference. The selection of these persons to be made by the publishing houses and conferences. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.6
W. C. White, Chairman.
S. N. Curtiss, Secretary.
We shall be able in the “Bulletin” to report but fragmentary remarks on the report, owing to pressure upon our time and space. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.7
The first four recommendations were considered together. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.8
THE LITERATURE CAMPAIGN
H. H. Hall: The time has fully come for this people to rise to one of the greatest tract and periodical campaigns that has ever been known. It is to be no haphazard work, but systematic house-to-house effort to save souls. We hope the tract work just begun will bring the whole denomination shoulder to shoulder in the effort to bring the truth to all the world in this generation. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.9
C. H. Jones: A few months ago we began what we called the tract campaign. Four special tracts were printed. Nearly a million of these tracts have already been sent out. This should be pushed on and followed up by our periodicals. Our periodicals are bringing people into the truth continually. Every man, woman, and child can join in carrying these papers to the people. Brother A. D. Gilbert is with us, from England, where he has been directing in the sale of “Present Truth.” They circulate 20,000 copies of that paper weekly. These are sold by our people. We have secured his services to help us in such a campaign for our periodicals in this country. He will not only work himself, but wants to take hold in the cities in our various conferences, to help others into this important work. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.10
C. McReynolds: One good old brother took hold of the tract campaign, and gave two months’ time to it in a city. As the result of the two months’ work, just closed, five substantial people are keeping the Sabbath. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.11
A. D. Gilbert: In England, we trained the young people in the churches, showing them how to sell our paper. And every minister was invited to talk about the periodical work in the churches. All took hold and pushed, and the circulation of our paper went up. I know that if we cooperate in this great work, we shall have success. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.12
E. R. Palmer: We are liable to make arrangements whereby the individual will turn over his work to specialists, and he pay and help secure funds to help on the work, but not touch the world and its needs with his own hands. We want plans and propositions whereby our own people will work as individuals. In England, 1,000 Sabbath-keepers are distributing periodicals to the extent of 32,000 copies per week, or thirty-two copies for every member of the church, according to the church roll, every week. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.13
CANVASSERS IN OTHER LANDS
On Resolution 10:— GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.14
G. W. Caviness: We have in Mexico a large section of territory, with about 14,000,000 of poor people, very ignorant, having been kept under the Catholic Church for four hundred years. They have not even had the Bible. They are just beginning to read a little of it now; and it has been demonstrated by the few who have worked a little in this line that something can be done. We need some strong, earnest young men who can take up this work and carry it forward. The Bible has been, and is yet, to a large extent, a prohibited book; but the people are beginning to read, and they will read, and they will take our literature. But they are poor, and their money is not worth much; and we need a cheap literature, well illustrated, that can be sold to them, and then we need a few canvassers to carry it to them. GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.15
George M. Brown: Before us tonight are representatives of all the conferences in the United States, and we appeal to you, brethren, to send us in Mexico men who will carry out this resolution. There is comparatively little opportunity to preach in Mexico. A man might pitch a tent in a town in Mexico, and he would not get a congregation as he does in the States. But the colporter does get a hearing. He can enter the homes; he can sell the literature. That has been proven by experience. Now what we ask, and what it means to me, if you vote this resolution, as I know you will, is that when you go to your homes, you will stir up the young men in your field with this missionary spirit to get away from home, to go to those needy fields, and then that you will send with them means to support them. We have no constituency in that field upon which we can draw to support the laborers in the field. We have not good brethren and sisters scattered throughout Mexico to whom we can appeal to circulate tracts, papers. We must depend upon you to send us help. Will you not do it? GCB April 14, 1903, page 194.16
The recommendations regarding literature in other languages were spoken to by Brethren Conradi, Russell, Shultz, Neilson, Johnson, J. E. White, and W. C. White. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.1
On motion, Recommendation 15 was referred to the Central Union Conference. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.2
Delegate: Questions on Recommendation 20: Does it mean that we are to dispense with the state conference depositories? GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.3
E. R. Palmer: These recommendations simply open up the way for Union Conferences to establish depositories in foreign fields, and in the United States whenever, in the judgment of the local field, it seems advisable to do so, and leaves with the local field entirely any arrangement or discussion concerning the control of state depositories, or the work of state depositories to such Union Conference depositories. It simply opens the way for action, but leaves them entirely to make their own arrangements. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.4
John Walker: I should be very sorry, indeed, to see this Conference pass this recommendation. While it may not mean that the state conference depositories are to be dispensed with altogether, yet it certainly looks in that direction. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.5
H. W. Cottrell: I should be on of the first persons here to oppose this measure if there were anything compulsory about it, because I think each conference should be free to act as it likes. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.6
At this juncture, G. A. Irwin, in behalf of the Nominating Committee, asked permission to bring in their report. The report was read, and it was moved to adopt by considering each name separately. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.7
One of the delegates from the South called attention to the fact that but one representative of that great field was nominated on the Conference Committee. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.8
By common consent, action on the report was deferred until regular business before the Conference was finished, giving time for the Southern representatives to consider what they should recommend. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.9
The amended report of the Publication Committee was further considered, and was voted upon, and passed unanimously. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.10
H. W. Cottrell called attention to the recommendation on page 103 of the “Bulletin,” which was deferred, pending action upon the constitution. The secretary read it, as follows:— GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.11
“We recommend that the General Conference Committee hereafter be the mission board of this denomination.” GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.12
W. C. White: I move an amendment to make the recommendation read as follows:— GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.13
“The General Conference Committee shall have the supervision of the missionary operations of the denomination.” GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.14
That will allow the legal Mission Board to be utilized for necessary legal business. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.15
The motion to amend was seconded, and on call of question the amended recommendation was passed. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.16
The report of the Nominating Committee was taken up. The Southern delegates had considered the matter of representation on the Conference Committee. It was moved by them that, inasmuch as their field had but one representative on the committee as reported, while the educational work had several men, the report be amended by substituting the name of R. M. Kilgore for that of M. E. Cady, who was named in the report. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.17
The motion to substitute was carried. GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.18
The report was further amended by adding the names of C. M. Everest, W. O. Palmer, C. N. Woodward, A. Moon, to the list of transportation agents. The amended report stood as follows:— GCB April 14, 1903, page 195.19